Accused had killed his wife

Gozitan Benny Attard, who stands charged with the murder of local warden Fortunata Spiteri four years ago, had been accused and found guilty of murdering his wife 19 years ago, a court heard yesterday.

Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera heard Mario Schembri testify that he used to form part of the police force and that in the 1980s he was assigned to work in Gozo.

The witness, today an army colonel, recognised Mr Attard as the same person who had been investigated in connection with his wife's murder. He was subsequently arraigned and found guilty of the murder on December 2, 1986.

Police Sergeant Ivan Camilleri exhibited a carnival mask which had been lifted from Mr Attard's residence and blood samples taken from the scene of the crime. These had been sent to the UK for DNA testing.

Joseph Spiteri, a psychiatrist, recommended that for therapeutical reasons it would be best for Mr Attard to be kept at the Mount Carmel Hospital rather than in prison.

The case continues.